Tigers' duo hits HRs; Scherzer fans 9 in win

8/27/2012

DETROIT -- Prince Fielder and Delmon Young provided the power the Detroit Tigers were missing with Miguel Cabrera out of the lineup.

Max Scherzer was pretty strong on the mound, too.

Fielder hit a tiebreaking two-run shot in the sixth inning and Young homered on the next pitch to support Scherzer and help Detroit beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-2 on Sunday.

"It was a really good win because Miggy wasn't in the lineup," Scherzer said. "Other guys stepped up and were able to produce. If we have a lineup one through nine that can produce, we're a scary team."

Scherzer (14-6) gave up one run and struck out nine over seven innings in his latest in a string of strong starts.

"Scherzer has a tremendous arm, no question about it," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's got some deception with that delivery. He throws hard, and he builds everything off that fastball, but he's got a decent change and he can throw a breaking ball when he needs one."

Joaquin Benoit struck out two more in a perfect eighth, and Jose Valverde struck out another batter after allowing a run while closing it out.

Angels right-hander Ervin Santana (7-11) gave up four runs and five hits over seven innings.

Detroit and Los Angeles, each vying for an AL wild card with 30-plus games left in the regular season, both rested one of their stars heading into an off day on Monday.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland made the decision to keep Cabrera in the dugout for the first time this year, nursing his sore right ankle with the expectation he will be in the field Tuesday night.

"I'm pretty confident that Miguel will play third base in Kansas City," Leyland said. "I think this did wonders for him and it had nothing to do with winning the game.

There was no decision to be made on Angels slugger Albert Pujols, who is simply not healthy enough to play.

"We're not holding him out to get him ready for the stretch," Scioscia said.

"If he was available and could play, he would be playing."

Angels star Mike Trout snapped an 0-for-9 skid with a leadoff single in the first inning and scored his 100th run of the year. The rookie struck out in each of his next three at-bats.

Scherzer is the first Tiger since at least 1918 to have at least eight strikeouts in eight straight starts.

He's the franchise's first pitcher with nine strikeouts or more in 11 starts in a season since Mickey Lolich had 15 in 1971.

"I feel comfortable," he said. "I'm always confident that every start, I can give the team a chance to win."